Alan Shearer, the legendary former England forward, has proposed an ideal starting lineup he believes could propel the Three Lions to a 2026 World Cup championship. England enters the competition as a top contender, currently under the leadership of German manager Thomas Tuchel following their successive appearances in recent EURO finals.
The team started their group stage campaign with a 4-2 win against Croatia, followed by a goalless draw versus Ghana. Their path to the knockout rounds remains in their hands as they prepare for a final group match against Panama. Shearer opted to keep Jordan Pickford as his primary goalkeeper while constructing a defensive unit of Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly.
For his midfield setup, Shearer prioritized balance by assigning Elliot Anderson to a defensive anchor role, Declan Rice as a box-to-box presence, and Jude Bellingham in an attacking role. His winger selections include Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford. Harry Kane, the captain and record-holding top scorer, leads the line in Shearer’s formation. The former Newcastle star maintains strong belief that this specific configuration provides England the best chance at lifting the trophy.
